About two years ago, Monte's mother saw an article in the Birmingham News about a newly discovered dinosaur trackway in northwestern Alabama. It was discovered by a local science teacher. The area has since been taken over by the state for research and preservation. It is now called the Stephen C. Minkin Dinosaur Trackway. It is one of only a handful of trackways in the world. Specimens from the site will soon be on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. There is already a nice collection set up for viewing at the McWane Science Center in Birmingham, AL. This site is noted as the most prolific trackway in the world.
We really wanted to go, but it is not open to the public. However, we still dreamed of getting to go one day, somehow. Well, it doesn't hurt to dream, does it??
Well...our dream came true! One day, we got invited to go with a special group of people including some of the researchers who are collecting, cataloging, and documenting material from the site.
While we were waiting for the rest of the group to arrive, we got to see some examples of material they had found recently.
This plate contained the footprints and tail-drag of a small amphibian. During the dinosaur age, this area was an inland coal forest. For more information on Alabama's ancient coal forests, CLICK HERE.
